When it comes to changing settings in Windows 11 , the first place most people think of is the Settings app . However, the Control Panel still plays an extremely important role in many of the configuration tasks you need on the new operating system.
Here are a few different ways you can access Control Panel on Windows 11.
How to access Control Panel on Windows 11
One of the easiest ways to launch Control Panel is to use the Start menu.
First, click on the Start button on the taskbar. The Start menu will open immediately. Here, type the keyword “control panel” in the search bar.
The Control Panel icon will appear in the search results. Click on this icon and the Control Panel interface will open immediately.
You can also launch Control Panel from the Run menu. Do this by pressing the Windows + R key combination to open the Run window . In the search field, type “control” and then click “OK” or press Enter. The Control Panel interface will immediately appear on the screen.
Similarly, you can open Control Panel from Command Prompt or Windows Terminal by accessing these command-line tools, then typing “control” and pressing Enter.
The Windows Start menu can also give you easy access to Control Panel. Here's how:
If you want easy access to some of Windows' built-in system tools, the Quick Access menu can help. This article will show you how this tool can help you open the Control Panel. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Finally, type Control Panel in the search box and press Enter.
The File Explorer address bar makes it easy to access software programs on your device. Here's how to use it to access Control Panel:
Alternatively, type C:\Windows\System32 in the File Explorer address bar and click control.exe or control in the next window.
Task Manager also provides an easy way to access Control Panel. Here's how you can use it:
Did you know that you can also access Control Panel through Windows Settings? Here's how:
Did you know that you can access most of your Windows applications using executable (.exe) files in the System32 folder?
Here's how to open Control Panel via the System32 folder:
Once you have opened Control Panel using any of the methods described above, you will also see its icon appear on the taskbar at the bottom of your screen. If you find yourself using Control Panel frequently, you can pin the logo directly to the taskbar for one-click Quick Access when needed.
Do this by right-clicking on the Control Panel icon while it is open, then selecting the “Pin to Taskbar” option. The next time you want to launch Control Panel, simply left-click once on the corresponding icon on the taskbar.
Similarly, you can also add Control Panel icon on desktop for Quick Access by double clicking when needed.
First, press Windows + i to open the Settings app, then navigate to Personalization > Themes , and click “Desktop Icon Settings” . In the desktop icon settings window that opens, check the box next to “Control Panel” , then click “OK”. The Control Panel icon will immediately appear on the desktop. To launch it, simply double-click the icon at any time.
The Windows Control Panel is a collection of applets, or small programs, used to configure various aspects of the Windows operating system. It has been around since Windows 1.0, but is now a little harder to find than it used to be.
If you’re having trouble finding the Control Panel in Windows 11 or wondering if Windows 11 has a Control Panel, it’s because a lot of the Control Panel’s functionality has been moved to the newer Settings menu. The Control Panel is still there, but it’s not as prominent and you have to access it through Windows 11’s search feature or the Command Prompt. The Settings menu is more prominent and easier to access.
Microsoft introduced the Settings menu in Windows 8, but they didn’t remove the Control Panel. Most of the Control Panel’s functionality was moved into the Settings menu, duplicating the functionality of the Control Panel applets rather than replacing them. The migration of functionality has been slow, and the Control Panel is still present in Windows 11.
For example, you can manage your Windows 11 programs or apps in two places: the Apps & Features section of the Settings app or the Uninstall or Change a Program section of the Programs and Features applet accessed through the Control Panel. The Apps & Features menu follows the design structure of Windows 11, while the Programs and Features applet looks very similar to Windows 8 and Windows 10.
While Settings hasn't completely replaced the Control Panel, Microsoft wants users to move to it. The Control Panel may eventually be phased out, but Windows 11 is just making it harder to find instead of replacing it entirely.
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